Media Graphix, a print shop based in Norcross, Georgia recently refused to estimate the cost for 2,500-5,000 copies of a Gay Community Yellow Pages media kit because of the print company’s “Moral Objection Policy” which rejects materials that “promote or advertise homosexuality such as gay pride.” This is weird seeing as the 2002 policy didn’t stop the company from printing Gay Community Yellow Pages materials in March of 2010.

It’s also seemingly immoral for a company that states that “Media Graphix is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against hiring regardless of sex, age, religion, or sexual orientation,” adding that “Homosexual owners of legitimate businesses are welcome and not to be discriminated against.”

Media Graphix should probably print a new copy of store policies which expressly forbid immoral companies practices against LGBT businesses.

Meh, I’m okay with this. They’re being dicks, and I hope their business suffers, but it’s their right to refuse to print content they find objectionable even if they look stupid. I’m sure the Yellow Pages can find another printer, and besides– who the fuck uses phone books anymore?

Nov 2, 2011 at 11:45 am · @Reply ·

Spike

What are yellow pages?

Nov 2, 2011 at 11:54 am · @Reply ·

Mark

Really Alex? So you’re ok if they refuse to print a publication that caters to blacks, Hispanics, women, etc as well I assume.

@Alex: A media kit is used more to persuade potential business partners into investing or advertising with your company.

@Spike: A listing of local businesses and services that provides their contact information (company name, phone numbers, addresses etc.). Some also provide high-paying customers with more prominent advertisement-style listings.

Nov 2, 2011 at 12:10 pm · @Reply ·

Christopher

. I think you need to reverse the situation to Understand. I am a graphic designer, mainly for restaurants. However, let’s say that NOM, AFA, FotF, or any of them come to me for design work…I want the right to refuse that job on moral grounds. While I disagree with their refusal to print the job, I can’t reasonably deny someone to do the work they want. This isn’t a government employee, or a public access (transportation, housing, etc) situation

Nov 2, 2011 at 12:19 pm · @Reply ·

rudie32

They won’t print anything that has to do with Pork? WTF? OOOh kay then! that right there would have told me to get my printing done somewhere else!

It is indeed the right of any private business to reject to do a job for anyone. And if they don’t want to do it, take your business elsewhere. Let capitalism do the competitive thing; those who reject business will see their bottom line suffer — they have the right to impoverish themselves. I’m sure there’s plenty of gay friendly printers in the Atlanta area, of which Norcross is a part. Why not go to the company that prints the local gay newspaper there in Atlanta?

And as a printer for many years, I routinely rejected to do some jobs — for various reasons. And now, as an entrepreneur in various ventures, I do indeed reserve the right to refuse to print, build websites, furnish expertise, or do anything which may aid and abet those I disagree with. Why, I could imagine being very upset if I was forced to create materials for NOM or the FRC I can tell you that.

Even more importantly — it is irrelevant to us gays what other groups, women, Latinos, African-Americans — do when confronted by this. Let us lead by example, and not follow the herd down politically correct roads towards some gov’t bureaucrat or judge deciding whom shall do business with whom. And remember, it was governments in the South which kept blacks off the lunch counters — not private companies. Even a lunch counter that wanted to serve blacks was prohibited from doing so — that’s government, not business.

And let us pray hard that we keep the right to throw heteros out of gay bars, resorts, churches, restaurants, businesses, etc, etc, or we shall be overwhelmed by them.

Nov 2, 2011 at 3:52 pm · @Reply ·

B

No. 7 · Jim Hlavac wrote, “And let us pray hard that we keep the right to throw heteros out of gay bars, resorts, churches, restaurants, businesses, etc, etc, or we shall be overwhelmed by them.”

What are you talking about? That “right”, at least in the state I live in, simply does not exist (except for religious practices). You can’t throw a straight couple out of a gay bar anymore than you can throw a gay couple out of a straight bar.

Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unruh_Civil_Rights_Act for a summary: “All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, marital status, or sexual orientation are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.”

I own several companies in Atlanta, GA. I actually emailed this company, asking them to apologize for this, and offering to do business with them if they did. They told me, that the whole thing was a misunderstanding? There is no misunderstanding, they are trying to make their clients live up to their own moral standards. This is America, you don’t have to agree with what someone else is doing, but that doesn’t mean you should discriminate against it! I thought segregation ended in the 60’s?